Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s pick for deputy attorney general, is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, has been nominated to become the second-in-command at the Justice Department.
The confirmation hearing is scheduled to commence at 10:15 a.m. ET, where Blanche will likely face tough questions from lawmakers. He has previously represented Trump in various legal cases, including a New York state case that led to a conviction last year and federal cases brought by the Justice Department.
One of the key issues that Blanche is expected to address is the current crisis within the Justice Department. There are concerns among the department's rank-and-file that the Trump administration is attempting to remove agents and prosecutors who are not perceived as loyal to the president.
If confirmed, Blanche would be responsible for overseeing the more than 100,000 employees of the Justice Department and managing its daily operations. Additionally, he will likely be questioned about the administration's legal challenges in court, as it has faced difficulties in defending the president's policies in numerous court cases.
Another significant aspect of the hearing will be how Blanche plans to handle pressure from President Trump, who has a history of exerting influence on his Justice Department officials. Trump has been known to dismiss top officials who do not comply with his directives, raising concerns about the independence of the department.
